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Published:
March 14, 2011

British History For Dummies

Overview

Royally confused about kings and queens? Never sure what happened when? Or where — England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales? Learn the people and events that shaped British history

British History For Dummies, 3rd Edition is full of rip-roaring stories of power-mad kings, executions, invasions, high treason, global empire building, and forbidden love — not bad for a nation of stiff upper lips. Engaged travelers, lifelong learners, history buffs, and students will all enjoy this friendly and accessible guide written in, well, plain English. This book is for you if you studied British History in school (perhaps a while ago) or learned only a bit about Wales or Scotland or Ireland and want to know more. And if you've ever asked yourself, "What kingdoms are part of the United Kingdom?" or "Exactly how was the UK formed?" or "Which people make up the UK?" — you've come to the right place, to get those answers and so much more.

With an 8-page color insert so you can see who, what, and where the ensuing

historical action takes place, you’ll learn about the following people and events (and more):

  • What led to the Roman invasion and about the Britons who resisted it
  • How Britain was divided into Saxon and Celtic kingdoms
  • How the Roman Church converted Celtic and British Christians
  • When the Vikings arrived, and what other invaders followed
  • The many battles of Henry II
  • The forming of England’s parliament
  • How the Black Death affected Britain
  • The Tudors vs. The Stuarts
  • How the Industrial Revolution helped push advancements in farming and infrastructure
  • All about the Victorians — everyone's favorite
  • Britain’s involvement in the Great War and World War II

Additionally, this edition is revised and expanded to include the historical parliamentary elections of 2010 and the British mission in Afghanistan, and you don't want to miss out. Pick up your copy of British History For Dummies, 3rd Edition today.

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About The Author

Seán Lang, PhD is the author of the best-selling European History For Dummies. He is a senior university lecturer in history and has been teaching history to school, college, and university students for more than two decades.

Sample Chapters

british history for dummies

CHEAT SHEET

British history is full of wonderful people (quite a few of whom were clearly stark raving mad, but that’s history for you) and exciting events – all of which helped make Britain the sort of place it is today. This Cheat Sheet sets out the lie of the land, and identifies the leaders and the events that mattered.

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British history is full of wonderful people (quite a few of whom were clearly stark raving mad, but that’s history for you) and exciting events – all of which helped make Britain the sort of place it is today. This Cheat Sheet sets out the lie of the land, and identifies the leaders and the events that mattered.
The office of Prime (or ‘first’) Minister developed in the eighteenth century, when the First Lord of the Treasury came to be regarded as the official head of the government. The first person who is generally regarded as having acted as Prime Minister was Sir Robert Walpole. Sir Robert Walpole 1721–1742 Whig
The first king acknowledged as king of all England was the Saxon King of Wessex, Athelstan, who came to the throne in 924. Later, Edward I brought Wales under English rule and Henry VIII incorporated it into England. Elizabeth I, who died in 1603, was the last ruler of England not to rule Scotland as well. Ho
King James VI of Scotland inherited the throne of England in 1603. Although this is called ‘the Union of the Crowns’, in fact the crowns of England and Scotland remained separate until the Act and Treaty of Union of 1707 joined them in the new Kingdom of Great Britain. House of Stuart James I (James VI of Sco
The Act and Treaty of Union of 1707 between the Parliaments of England and Scotland created a Kingdom of Great Britain which consisted of England (which incorporated Wales) and Scotland. In 1801 the Act of Union, passed by the British and Irish Parliaments, created a new United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
The first king who is generally regarded as having ruled over all of Scotland was Kenneth MacAlpin, who had managed to conquer both the Picts and the Scots by 842. No-one knows exactly when he was declared king, so 843 is an approximation. All the kings of Scotland until the thirteenth century were descended from Kenneth MacAlpin whether through the male or female line, though different branches of the royal house were often deadly rivals for the throne.
If the Diamond Jubilee 2012 in celebration of Queen Elizabeth or the London Olympics inspires you to visit the UK, here are some suggestions for your trip. You don’t need anyone to tell you to visit the Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial (the site of the Diamond Jubilee concert), Tower of London or Stratford on Avon: You know that.
The islands of Britain and Ireland are normally referred to as ‘the British Isles’ – not a politically accurate term (Ireland is not ‘British’) but no-one has yet come up with a workable alternative.
The history of Britain is usually divided by historians into a series of periods. This list gives you some of the highlights of each period. Ancient Britain Neolithic Britain c12,000 BC–c2,750 BC The Beaker people and the Bronze Age c2,750 BC–750 BC Iron Age and La Tène culture c750 BC–43 AD Roman Br
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